Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, now officially called intu Lakeside, is the unrivaled heart of shopping in Essex and part of everyone's summer and Christmas shopping plans.

The centre is home to some of the biggest names like Debenhams, House of Fraser, Primark, Pandora, Apple, Ann Summers and The Disney Store.

Outside, The Boardwalk is a pleasant setting for dining next to the water, while the nearby Lakeside Retail Park boasts even more big names like Currys PC World, Mothercare, Next and The Range for all your shopping needs.

Before visiting. it is important to know when Lakeside opens, how to get there, and where to park at Lakeside.

The best way to get to Lakeside

intu Lakeside is located in Grays, Essex - just minutes from the M25 and the Dartford Crossing.

If travelling to the centre by car, you will see signs for Lakeside Shopping Centre from junctions 30 and 31 on the M25 that will take you straight towards the best places to park.

You can also access Lakeside Shopping Centre from the A13, A1306 and West Thurrock Way.

There is free parking for more than 12,500 vehicles, so finding somewhere close to leave your car for a few hours should not be a problem.

Lakeside Thurrock Post Code for your sat nav is RM20 2ZP

If you are planning on taking the train to Lakeside, the nearest station is Chafford Hundred, which is on the C2C line and only a short five minute walk from the shopping centre.

As for bus services, Lakeside can be reached by many different bus services across Essex, Kent and London. Buses stop at the Lakeside Bus Station. You can check bus timetables to Lakeside by visiting the relevant website for your local bus company.

That's not all - you can also get to Lakeside by bike or by taxi.

If you are cycling to Lakeside, there are cycle routes from Chafford Hundred and Grays that are currently being worked on and improved in partnership with Thurrock Council.

Shops at Lakeside

Whether you are searching for beauty, fashion, electricals or homeware then Lakeside Shopping Centre has you covered.

Designer fashion outlets like Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Lipsy, Moss Bros and Little Mistress provide the latest trends, while Sketchers, Clarks, Monsoon and H&M offer more of a range of clothing and accessories.

There are a handful of health and beauty stores like Eden, Lush, Boots (including Boots Opticians), Regis Salons, Rush Hair, Supercuts, Superdrug and Toni & Guy to head to for some pampering and cosmetic needs.

Electricals and technology is one of the biggest industries in the world and Lakeside also has a plethora of stores for tech geeks like Apple, Menkind, GAME and HMV.

Lakeside Food Court

You could tuck into a delicious Five Guys at Lakeside Shopping Centre

An important part of any shopping trip at Lakeside is heading up to the top floor to the Food Court for a sit down lunch or to grab a quick snack.

There are 19 different restaurants offing everything from burgers and chicken to jacket potatoes and vegetarian classics.

The big names in the takeaway world, including KFC, Burger King and Nando's, are usually the busiest units thanks to their world-renowned brands, but other places like Five Guys, Ed's American Diner and Pizza Express are also worthy of consideration.

Lakeside Retail Park

The Lakeside Shopping Centre Retail Park

Heading outside to the Retail Park and this is where you will find Pets at Home, Matalan, ASDA Living, Maplin, Argos, TKMaxx and Tony Levoi Vauxhall dealership.

Like with the Food Court, you can also find places to stop for something to eat, including Pizza Hut and TGI Friday.

IKEA is also located on the Retail Park, which is Essex's only IKEA store, whereas if you'd rather buy things in bulk, you can also find a Costco warehouse there too.

intu Lakeside map

There are three floors at intu Lakeside

intu Lakeside has three floors. You can enter the shopping centre from various different entrances, including on both Level 1 and 2 at Debenhams and House of Fraser at either end.

The Food Court is upstairs on Level 3, while Brompton Walk can be found of Level 2 and The Boardwalk is on Level 1.

You can find all the jobs currently available at Lakeside Shopping Centre by clicking here.

Lakeside Vouchers

Vouchers and gift cards are always the easiest go-to present when it is someone's birthday or any other special occasion that requires a present.

Although there are far too many different shops to pick from.

Luckily, intu offer their own gift cards, which can be used at more than 2000 stores, restaurants and leisure facilities across 14 shopping centres nationwide.

You can purchase gift cards with any amount ranging from £5 to £1000 and the cardholder has one year from the date of issue to use the full amount on the card.

It is important to note that the whole value does not need to be used in one transaction. It can be used as many times as you like until the balance has run out.

You can find out more information about intu gift cards by clicking here.

Traffic to Lakeside

The roads around Lakeside Shopping Centre can get very congested at times (Image: @infinitypicss)

Anyone that lives either side of the Dartford Crossing will know that when there are problems with the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, it has a major effect on traffic around Lakeside Shopping Centre.

Roadworks are also regularly happening in the area, while weekends are especially busy shopping day, so drivers heading towards the centre are warned to check traffic websites before heading to the centre.

Other things to do around Lakeside

Around Christmas, one of the main attractions at the shopping centre is the Lakeside Ice Rink. The magical experience was set up in the 'Christmas village' and costs £9.75 for adults and £7.76 for children.

If you're looking to get your pump on, Absolute Gym and Bannatynes Heath Club are both close by - but require memberships.

Shopping can be tiring, so you'll be happy to know that there are several hotels nearby if travelling from a distance for a good session at Lakeside. Travelodge Thurrock and Premier Inn Thurrock are the two closest options.

If you'd like to shop somewhere else, Chelmsford's Bond Street is usually a popular option, along with Blue Water Shopping Centre in Kent.